I Have Become The Heroes’ Rival - Chapter 26

TL: gaeulriri

Editor: Daed

***

In the morning, a bouquet arrived in my room.

The name of this black flower that resembled hell was ‘Thanatos’, and the flower’s meaning was death.

There was only one person who would openly warn me of death like this.

I recalled that Claudia had given me a bouquet yesterday from the royal greenhouse.

‘Such a childish but creepy warning.’

I found a small note hiding among the flowers.

I was very reluctant to open it up, but I was the one who lost if I did not read it.

After a moment’s hesitation, I opened the note while frowning like a child who forcibly swallowed food she didn’t want to eat.

[You are the one who wasted the chance I gave you. This is your last warning.]

Chance? When on earth did you give me a ‘chance’?

I couldn’t hide my feelings that I found his one-sided argument ridiculous, but then it dawned on me.

It seemed that he was referring to the dignified, skilled, and handsome men he had sent me all this time. Because I had rejected all of them without hesitation.

Did he think that I ‘wasted the chance’ because I didn’t fall for them?

‘Well, it was a chance.’

It was a chance to get out of this arranged future.

A chance to survive, a chance to choose a handsome Lord and get married with him to live a long life.

The thing I could get by betraying Claudia was something that I couldn’t easily give up as a human being. Because I could get a safe and stable life.

In fact, it wasn’t unreasonable that Lucas thought that I would fall for this and choose to live peacefully.

Granted, that was if I didn’t know from the writer of this novel just how cruel the fate was that awaited Claudia.

If it were the real Irene–not me–who was here, she would betray Claudia and stand on the Crown Prince’s side.

It wasn’t easy to ignore the chance to live comfortably that laid in front of us.

But would I really be happy if I lived that way?

Did I have confidence that I wouldn’t regret my decision for the rest of my life as I witnessed all the disasters to come?

Where I would watch Claudia live her life like a walking zombie, as a toy for the heroes, and enduring everything alone in this cruel world with no one to depend on.

Claudia seemed to think that she only got help from me, and it was time for her to pay me back–but that was completely wrong.

Just being by my side, who was a loner, she gave me a lot of comfort. It was very difficult for me to be proud of myself.

But, you know.

“For the first time, I want to walk down the difficult path…”

I mumbled as I dropped the bouquet into the fireplace.

The scent of death burning in a bright red flame was sweeter than I had thought.

***

Today, the day I received a terrifying warning from the Crown Prince in the morning, was the day of the Foundation of the Empire ceremony.

When the bell was rung to announce the opening of the ceremony, all the nobles gathered at the Grand Hall.

Then, after listening to a speech like a school principal usually did, we would watch a play about the myth of the founding of the empire.

A boring speech in honor of the eternal glory of Roxitant, the Empire of the Gods, ensued amongst silence.

There wasn’t any sense of patriotism in my heart even though I had read the book for two years.

The long two-hour speech was enough to make the nobles look like they were about to vomit.

However, the theater performance that followed was quite interesting. Everyone in the empire knew the myth of the founding of the empire, but it was a new story to me.

In particular, the magic that created the scene of the dragon descending from the sky was really fantastic.

Of course, most of the nobles, except me, covered their mouths with fans to hide their yawns and twisted their body to get rid of drowsiness.

Well, it’s interesting to me now, but I would most likely do the same if I had to watch this play every year.

“Chloe, wake up!”

After the performance, I gently shook Claudia who had fallen asleep with her head on my shoulder.

She looked dazed, as if asking ‘Where am I? Who am I?’, then she wiped the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand.

As she looked down at the back of her hand which was devoid of anything, she muttered.

“I don’t think there are any annual events as useless and boring as the foundation of the empire ceremony.”

“All ceremonies are like that.”

My university graduation ceremony was also boring, but it was still nothing compared to the foundation of the empire ceremony every year.

Then Felix, who sat on my other side, stood up and remarked.

“There’s nothing useless in this world. If you endure the difficulties, your favorite work becomes more valuable to you. If you choose to turn away from them, even the work you like becomes harder in the end.”

Instead of standing up, I stiffened in my seat for a moment when I heard those words.

It couldn’t be, but it felt like my feet were pinched by words that seemed to fit my situation.

If I failed, would I be able to enjoy peace on my own in the future? Would it be the same as before?

And then, naturally, I straightened my back. I would make sure that it wouldn’t happen in the future.

“Nagger.”

Claudia said with a small yawn.

“But that’s right. My sleep has been made more valuable thanks to this boring ceremony.”

“Anyway…Come here.”

Felix laughed as he pulled Claudia, who seemed like talking in her sleep, up.

She was still in between dreams and reality.

Before we arrived at the Imperial Palace, she had been complaining about not wanting to attend the ceremony.

Felix shook Claudia a few times before finally giving up and deciding to carry her. Before he left, he told me,

“I’ll take Chloe to her room.”

I waved my hand to say goodbye and wished them to arrive safely.

An older brother who hugged his younger sister, and a younger sister who didn’t resist even if she was hugged. As expected, they were fantastic unicorn siblings.

After confirming that they had were completely gone, I stepped outside and explored the surroundings.

It felt like there had never been a day like this, where I could meet all the nobles who had been given a place of honor, regardless of their title. So if I mixed with them, they wouldn’t even wonder if I belong to the high-ranking aristocrats.

Then, first of all, the question was whom to approach first…..

In front of men, I found it difficult to break my habit of building an iron wall, so my instinct to approach them naturally disappeared.

Okay, let’s try with confidence.

From afar, I pondered for a moment how to approach my target.

Her name is Erica Dapellacion.

She was the only daughter of the Duke Dapellacion, and as it was, she was a noble whom I–a girl from an ordinary family–could not dare to talk to.

It wasn’t difficult to find Erica in the midst of this crowd because she had gorgeous hair that stood out even tens of meters away.

Her red hair looked as if she got the color from a burning bonfire.

‘I think her hair will shine at night.’

She shone in a different way from the shiny siblings.

I sneaked up to Erica after stopping my useless admiration.

But then I caught sight of Viscount Amber standing around the corner, arms folded.

‘Oh, damn, why is that old man here…’

Of course he would come. Thanks to Claudia who repaid all his debt, he was able to save his small manor just before it was confiscated.

I thought I have lived a really comfortable life after forgetting him completely.

The good news was that Liam didn’t come here, because only one representative of the family could attend.

I sighed in relief after confirming that no one was next to Viscount Amber.

‘That little boy didn’t have to suffer.’

At this time, Viscount Amber’s eyes lit up as if he was looking for someone, and then our eyes met.

I reflexively covered my face with my palms, but it seemed like I couldn’t hide myself from him.

Facing his hyena-like eyes flash like he had finally caught his target, it seemed like he was attending the ceremony with the intention of meeting me in the first place.

He acted as if he would never get another chance after today.

‘Okay, that little boy isn’t here. Let’s ignore that man and pretend I don’t know him.’

I thought so, and without hesitation, I pivoted on my feet and swiveled around.

“Irene!”

Of course, he wouldn’t pretend that he never knew me.

Viscount Amber ran through the crowd to get to me and somehow managed to swiftly approach me.

“Irene, wait a minute. I have something to say.”

“Pardon? I don’t know you. What’s wrong with you?”

As Viscount Amber got closer to me, I tried to keep a distance between us.

Trying to run away from Viscount Amber brought me closer to Erica’s position.

It was inevitable, I was getting closer to Erica.

‘Oh, come on. I don’t have time to deal with an old man like you right now.’

However, this old man kept chasing me and tried to chastise me.

“I know you’re angry with me, but isn’t it time for you to get rid of your anger?”

“Why would I be mad at someone I don’t even know? You’re such a freak.”

It didn’t matter that you were Irene’s father, you were just a strange old man for me. However, his face turned red as if he was surprised by what I said.

“You….! Whoa, why are you doing this?”

Did you ask because you didn’t know, uncle?

Did you forget that you sold me for money? Why are you trying to act like a father now?

Considering that he was trying to calm himself down without scolding me or putting his hands on me, there was a hundred percent chance that it was due to the gaze of the surrounding nobles around us.

“Don’t do this, let’s talk somewhere quiet. Just for a moment.”

It was obvious that he would ask for money for his business, or maybe he ran out of money to buy drinks.

How could I get this old man out of my life?

“Viscount Amber, if you sold me like an item for money, don’t aim for something that’s already owned by others.”

Claudia paid off all of the Amber family’s debts, so didn’t that mean that I have become Claudia’s property?

Then, Viscount Amber snorted at me as if he didn’t find it funny.

“So, you’re not an Amber anymore?”

“……I hope so.”

“It can’t be so, not until you get married.”

The moment I heard that, I immediately grasped what Viscount Amber had come to me for.

‘You’re coming back for the same reason you tormented me for a year ago…’

The prince clearly said ‘Last Warning’ in the note. In other words, it meant that one more chance would be given.

The simple-minded Crown Prince would definitely use the same method, and it was obvious that Viscount Amber was being so persistent because he was being paid.

Just like Lord Moore and Lord Belle who had ‘pursued’ me, Viscount Amber must also have been paid by the Crown Prince.

The viscount would tell me to marry someone from another family, and make sure to keep me away from Claudia.

So, if I wasted the last chance that the Crown Prince gave me, would he make me end up like the Thanatos flower?

Of course, I wouldn’t let him succeed.

‘Oh, wait a second.’

If I did well, I could take advantage of this situation.

I looked around pretending to be looking at the runway. Erica was still there.

She was in a position where she could hear our conversation if I spoke loudly.